Two allegedly steal Redding Firefighter's personal belongings as he rested from Carr Fire

by Mindy Schack

Jennifer Denise Estes, Brian Daniel Martinson

CHICO, Calif. —

Two people were arrested in Chico after police found a stolen City of Redding Firefighter's backpack in their vehicle at the scene of an attempted shoplifting.

On Monday, August 13, a City of Redding Firefighter, actively involved in the battling of the Carr Fire, had his City of Redding Fire vehicle burglarized after going home for brief rest from the fire. His personal backpack was stolen from the vehicle, containing more than $5,000 worth of personal property, including his personal laptop computer and a hard drive containing irreplaceable personal family photographs. He filed a report regarding the theft with the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office. The theft incited a great deal of frustration for a department already grieving the loss of one of their own, Jeremy Stoke, in the Carr Fire.

On Wednesday, August 15, Chico Police Officers responded to the Sportsman’s Warehouse at 765 East Avenue in Chico for a reported shoplifting. 33-year-old Brian Martinson of Palo Cedro was detained at the scene. Martinson had several warrants for his arrest out of Shasta County. 40-year-old Jennifer Estes of Palo Cedro was found in a vehicle in the parking lot.

Officers found that both Martinson and Estes were on probation out of Shasta County and conducted a search per their probation terms. Inside the vehicle officers found the City of Redding Firefighter’s backpack. Both Martinson and Estes were arrested for additional charges of possession of stolen property.

Unfortunately, the missing hard drive was not located and is still outstanding. Chico Police learned that Martinson and Estes had been staying at a home in Palo Cedro, a short distance from the location of the theft from the City of Redding Fire vehicle.

The incident has spurred an investigation into other thefts from vehicles in the Palo Cedro area.